A letter from Dan and Carol Chou Adams in South Korea
June 11, 2009
From second class to first class
Dear Friends and Colleagues in Mission,
One of the things that mission co-workers do is travel a lot, and if you travel frequently on the same airline you sometimes receive free perks. One of those free perks is being upgraded from economy class to business class on international flights and to first class on domestic flights. After a long trans-Pacific flight there is nothing quite so comforting than to have the flight attendant say, “Mr. and Mrs. Adams we have seats for you in first class.” Make no mistake about it — first class seats are wider, there is more legroom and the service is definitely better.
When we first came to Korea in 1980 persons with disabilities were treated as second-class citizens. They could not have a driver’s license, they could not be employed in most government jobs — including teaching in public schools — and virtually all colleges and universities refused them admission. Even churches were not accessible to those in wheelchairs, as most sanctuaries were on the second floor and could be reached only by a fight of stairs.
According to a local television station, “Hanil University was number one in Korea in making its campus accessible to those with disabilities.”
Here in Jeonju, it was the missionaries and a number of Christian doctors who founded the Hamgae-Hanin Kyo-hwe, the Togetherness Church, which is fully accessible for persons in wheelchairs. It was Christian social workers who led the way in pressing for new legislation to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. Forward-thinking clergy made certain that newly constructed church buildings were fully accessible and older buildings were equipped with ramps and elevators. And in the area of higher education, Hanil University was among the first group of universities to make all academic programs — and the entire campus — open to those with disabilities.
Today at Hanil University sign language is available not only in the chapel services, but in all classes where there are hearing impaired students. The entire campus is equipped with special raised lanes in the hallways to mark stairways, elevators and rest rooms, and classrooms are marked in Braille. Elevators have controls for those seated in wheelchairs and all restrooms are fully accessible. In older buildings without elevators, ramps have been put in and entrances constructed at all levels to make them fully accessible. There are rooms for disabled students where they can rest and attend to particular needs they have, and a group of married women students volunteer staff one of these rooms, which is equipped for the preparation of special meals.
Two cups that the disabled students group sells. They show Jesus using sign language.
The heart of Hanil University’s openness to all is to be found in the actions of its faculty, staff and students. Persons with disabilities are members of both the faculty and staff, and the entire student body cooperates in making certain that everyone is included in all activities. The rear section of the chapel looks like a parking lot as students in electric wheel chairs enter. Teams of student volunteers assist those with special needs during mealtimes and in class sessions. Students with missing limbs join in on the soccer field and the sign language choir sometimes “sings” in chapel.
This level of acceptance at Hanil University has not gone unnoticed, and earlier this year KBS television news announced that “Hanil University was number one in Korea in making its campus accessible to those with disabilities.” Truly Hanil University has said to those with disabilities, “We have seats for you in first class. The aisles are wider for those using canes or crutches. There is enough legroom for electric wheelchairs. And the service is the best that can be offered, for we are serving none other than Jesus Christ our Lord.”
If you would like to support institutions such as Hanil University, and if you would like to be involved in a mission program that says to the disabled of the world, “We have seats for you in first class,” then we urge you and your church to participate in World Mission Challenge ’09 to be held from September 25 to October 18, 2009. This mission emphasis will conclude with a World Mission Celebration in Cincinnati, Ohio, to be held from October 22 to 24. You can speak with Ellen Dozier at (888) 728-7228, x5916 concerning World Mission Challenge ’09 or with Lis Valle at (888) 728-7228, x5279 concerning the World Mission Celebration. Call and get involved! Be among those who say to those with disabilities in Korea and throughout the world, “We have seats for you in first class.”
Faithfully in mission,
Daniel and Carol Chou Adams
The 2009 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 120
